Antonio Conte, the seasoned Italian coach, expressed his satisfaction following Napoli’s impressive 2-0 away victory against Lazio during the 18th round of Serie A. The triumph showcased the team’s resilience and quality on the field, but Conte’s focus quickly shifted to the injury of player David Neres, who exited the match in the 70th minute. Conte mentioned, “We will wait for the results of the exams tomorrow. It doesn’t seem to be a muscular injury, and we hope it’s not serious, especially since we’ve suffered numerous injuries for a long time.”
The Napoli coach praised his players for their performance, highlighting the challenges of preventing Lazio from imposing their style of play. “I must congratulate the players. To play with this technical quality and physical strength, while keeping Lazio at bay, is not easy. We executed a match of a very high level,” he noted.
Discussing the team’s tactical approach, particularly their execution on the right side, Conte shared, “When there’s time for good preparation, we try to leverage the skills of our players and identify the opponent’s weaknesses. The players’ dedication was exceptional. Perhaps we lack a bit of selfishness in front of goal, despite creating many opportunities, but I’m very happy given the injuries and absences we are dealing with.”
Conte remained optimistic about the team’s trajectory, stating, “We are showing excellent signs and achieving victories against strong, high-quality teams. We will now be playing about every three days with limited opportunities to rotate the squad, and we hope that we won’t pay the price for relying too heavily on the same players.”
As for the upcoming transfer market, Conte refrained from delving into specifics, saying, “I don’t like to talk about these matters. Last year, I said not to make many changes, and then we sold Kvaratskhelia. What we need is clear to everyone. My role is to work with what I have available, and there is always significant pressure on me, but with this group of players, we will aim to give our best.”
Conte’s positive outlook on both the recent victory and his team’s potential underscores his confidence as they navigate a demanding stretch of matches ahead.